Monday, February 11, 2013

ICHOF: Eric Stonestreet and the 2013 Annual Fundraising Campaign

Welcome from the International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center! It is with
great pride and excitement that we introduce our 2013 Annual
Fundraising Campaign, Smile – One Laugh at a Time, with our special
Honorary Chairperson – Emmy Award winning actor from ABC’s hit
television show Modern Family - Eric Stonestreet!

"As a kid, all I ever wanted to be was a clown in the circus. In a sense, my
dream came true. It’s with great honor and respect that I get to be my
childhood clown character, Fizbo, in the biggest circus of them all,
Hollywood. Please join me in supporting the International
Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in their efforts to sustain and
honor clowns and laughter. With smiles, laugher and a pie in the face! All my best– Eric Stonestreet Honorary Chairman"

The International Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center is embarking
on the biggest funding campaign in its 27 year history of bringing
laughter, education and preservation to this thing we all love called
clowning.

We need your help today to continue our mission to
“Preserve and honor the art of the clown”. This museum houses the
largest single collection of clown artifacts in the world today. That is
a lot of “stuff”. As we explain in our guided tours, behind each clown
shoe, trunk, costume, photograph or scrapbook is a story. Sometimes that
story belongs to a fairly famous clown name like Red Skelton, Emmett
Kelly or Grock. More often than not, it’s the story of a working
performing artist who devoted their life’s efforts to this passion and
created laughter and memories. To share those stories is our honor.

Since 1989 we have inducted 77 master clown performers into the
International Clown Hall of Fame. We continue to strive to give back to
our local and world communities through two dozen outreach programs,
original historic DVD’s, interactive exhibits, education and training
programs, research opportunities, oral history preservation, and to
continue to honor those who have come before us, left a lasting impact
on this art form and on who’s shoulders we all stand.

I and
the entire Board of Directors of the International Clown Hall of Fame
and Research Center respectfully ask for your financial help to further
achieve the goals and mission of this unique institution. Any gift
amount is most welcome and deeply appreciated. Since opening our doors
in our new home of Baraboo, Wisconsin in May of 2010, 100% of all
donations, tour revenues, grants and gift shop sales have gone towards
supporting our outreach programs, new display development, research
opportunities and operating expense’s. As Executive Director, I
performed my duties on a volunteer, no compensation basis for the past
three years.

If you’ve donated to the ICHOF before, we thank
you for your generosity, kindness and support. We hope you can take a
moment to reflect on our message, remember the laughter and support our
mission. Donations can also be made through the PayPal Donate Button on
our website, www.theclownmuseum.com. The ICHOF is a 501 (c) 3 not for profit organization, therefore your donation may be tax-deductible.